Relaxing Recipes

Looking for just the thing to add to your prescription for a moment of calm? We suggest comfort foods that can lift your mood and decrease stress levels, and no, we're not talking about wine. Our cheesy, creamy, and bread-based foods will definitely help you unwind. When you opt for healthier versions of your favorite foods, you're choosing to feed both your body and soul with soothing recipes that can help you relax.

Looking for just the thing to add to your prescription for a moment of calm? We suggest comfort foods that can lift your mood and decrease stress levels, and no, we're not talking about wine. Our cheesy, creamy, and bread-based foods will definitely help you unwind. When you opt for healthier versions of your favorite foods, you're choosing to feed both your body and soul with soothing recipes that can help you relax.

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March 12, 2013

1 of 15Photo: Con Poulos

Relax and Bliss Out

Simmer down and loosen up while creating these scrumptious good-mood recipes. With a list that includes everything from enchiladas to cocktails, there’s a recipe to help you relax and unwind on any given day.

First up is our French Onion Soup. French onion soup is such a simple dish that the ingredients and the way they’re cooked make all the difference. It’s worth the effort to make your own stock for this simple soup, but if you want to save time, you can use store-bought unsalted beef stock or lower-sodium broth.

New York Cheesecake

For a denser, creamier texture, cool the cake in the oven one hour with the oven door ajar instead of closed. Make a day ahead since the cooled cake needs to chill overnight. Serve cake with seasonal fruit: Berries, cherries, and sliced stone fruit are all good options.

Eggs Blindfolded Over Garlic-Cheddar Grits

Many grits lovers say the most flavorful variety is stone-ground yellow grits, which will also take longer to cook (but can be worth the wait). Take your pick before preparing this recipe: Stone-ground grits are more coarse than regular grits; instant grits have been precooked and dehydrated.